Packaging machine

ABSTRACT

A BOOK PACKAGING MACHINE FOR AUTOMATICALLY SEPARATING BOOKS FROM THE LEADING END OF A ROW OF BOOKS, SO AS TO FORM LIFTS OF A SIZE SUITABLE FOR PACKAGING, AND FEEDING THE LIFTS ALTERNATELY IN OPPOSITE DIRECTION TRANSVERSELY OF THE PATH OF ROW TRAVEL. THE MACHINE FEATURES A FLOATING HEAD SEPARATOR, WHICH IS ADAPTED, WHILE SEPARATING THE LEADING END OF THE ROW OF BOOKS INTO LIFTS, TO MOVE IN RESPONSE TO FEEDING MOVEMENT OF THE ROW IN ORDER TO PREVENT THE OCCURRENCE OF UNDESIRED PRESSURE BUILD UP THEREIN.

Jan. 5, 1971 T. w. BUSHNELL PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed July 17, 1968 THOMAS WILBUR BUSHNELL 63% y QM ATTORNEYS Jan. 5, '1 w. BUSHNELL PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Shets-Sheet 2 Filed July 17, 1968 INVEN'IOR,

THOMAS WILBUR BUSHNELL @mmm A T TORNEYD- Jan. 5-, 1971- 1'.w. BUSHNELL PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN'IOR. THOMAS WILBUR BUSHNELL J @gmq 6m ATTORNEYS N IO l H HI l Jan. 5, .1971 T. WJBUSHNELL 3,552,039

' PACKAGING MACHINE .Filed July 17 1968 '8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

THOMAS WI LBUR BUSHNELL A 'Z'TORNEYS Jan. 5, 1971 3,552,089

T. W. BUSHNELL PACKAGING MACHINE Filed July 17, 1968 8 Sheets-Sheet a "hll wmlmn I N VENTOR.

ATTORNEYS THOMAS WILBUR BUSHNELL J J v 'r. w. BUSHNELL PACKAGING MACHINE .s Sheets-Sheet 1' Filed Jul 17, 1968 6-20 Qllm ATTORNEYS r, .IIIIIIZFW WIIIZZZ Jan. 5, 1971' Filed July 17, 1968 T. W. BUSHNELL PACKAGING MACHINE '8 Sheets-Sheet 7 INVENIUR.

THOMAS WI LBUR BUSHNELL A TTORNEY5 Jan. 5, 1971 'r. w. BUSHNELL PACKAGING MACHINE 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Filed July 15*, 1968 moY O kw ww INVENTOR.

- THOMAS WILBUR BUSHNELL BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent 01 fice Patented Jan. 5, 1971 US. CI. 53-61 19 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A book packaging machine for automatically separating books from the leading end of a row of books, so as to form lifts of a size suitable for packaging, and feeding the lifts alternately in opposite direction transversely of the path of row travel. The machine features a floating head separator, which is adapted, while separating the leading end of the row of books into lifts, to move in response to feeding movement of the row in order to prevent the occurrence of undesired pressure build up therein.

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION Heretofore, it has been an accepted practice to employ a reciprocating piston arrangement to advance a row of books from fabricating machinery along a straight line path in abutting relationship past a packaging station, whereat workers manually remove books from the leading end of the advancing row of books in lifts of,a size suitable for packing in a shipping carton. When employing this procedure it has been found necessary, due to the rate of feed of the books from the fabricating machinery to employ two workers to physically remove and package the lifts of books in cartons and two helpers to assemble the cartons and subsequently transfer the filled cartons onto a suitable conveyor passing to a carton sealing station.

In an effort to speed up production, it has been suggested to employ machinery adapted to automatically divide the books advancing from the fabricating machinery into lifts of a size suitable for manual packing. One proposal envisioned the feeding of a row of books along a first path to a separating station, whereat means are provided to separate lifts of books from the leading end of the row and thereafter direct separated lifts along a path arranged normal to the first path. Difiiculty, however, has been encountered due to the fact that during operation high pressure was built up within the row of books advancing to the separating station, which ofttimes resulted in damage to the machine components. Further, the occurrence of high pressure conditions was found to compress or reduce the thickness of the individual books in the direction of feed and thus make accurate separation of the books according to lift size impossible.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 7 The packing machine of the present invention overcomes the disadvantages mentioned above by providing incombination with a reciprocating piston book feeding arrangement an accumulator section including a floating separator head which is adapted, while separating the leading end of the advancing row of books into lifts, to move in response to feeding movement of the row of books to prevent the occurrence of undesired pressure built up therein. More particularly, the floating head of the present invention is adapted to produce during each operational cycle of the book advancing piston two equal sized lifts and successively divert such lifts inopposite directions along paths of travel disposed transversely of the path along which the row of books is fed to the floating head.

Additionally, the present packaging machine includes an improved packing section, which includes at least two novelly designed packing stations in combination with a filled carton conveyor, which are disposed along the path of travel of the diverted lifts. This arrangement requires only one worker at each station to perform the carton forming, packing and filling carton transfer operations.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of the packaging machine of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the machine shown in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 3-3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the packing machine illustrated in FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a view showing a packing stand moved to its lower filled carton discharge position;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 6-6 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 77 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 88 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary view showing the stabilizing bar in its forward position;

FIG. 10 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 1010 of FIG. 8;

FIG. 11 is a sectional view taken generally along the line 11-11 of FIG. 10; and

FIGS. 12-19 are schematic views illustrating the sequence of operation of the floating head employed in the packaging machine of the present invention.

9 DETAILED DESCRIPTION The packaging machine of the present invention, which is generally designated as 1 in the drawings, is adapted to receive a row of books 2 advancing from a book fabrieating apparatus, generally designated as 3 in FIGS. 1 and 4, for the purpose of separating the leading end of the advancing row of books into a pair of equal sized lifts 4, 4' and successively diverting such lifts in opposite directions along paths of travel disposed substantially transversely of the path of travel of row of books 2, once during each operational cycle of the fabricating apparatus.

For purposes of illustration, fabricating apparatus 3 will be described with particular reference to FIGS. 1 and 4 as being in the form of a book leaf edge paint spray and drying apparatus, which generally includes: a paint spray and dry housing, shown in phantom at 5; a pneu matically operated, reciprocating book advancing piston 6, having a piston rod mounted, book engaging pressure plate 7; a generally U-shaped guide or through 8; and a generally U-shaped apparatus supply guide or trough 9. During each operational cycle of apparatus 3, a group of books 10, having the number of books required to form two lifts, is fed by suitable means, not shown, along supply guide 9 onto guide 8 in order to continuously form row of books 2, while pressure plate 7 is in retracted position. Thereafter, piston 6 is operated by a suitable control circuit, also not shown, in order to extend pressure plate 7 and thus feed row of books 2 in surface abutting relationship along guide 8 through spray and drying housing 5. In accordance with conventional practice, the vertical side flanges of guide 8 are removed, as indicated at 8 in order to fully expose the leaf edges of the books during passage thereof through housing 5.

For purposes of reference, it will be understood that in prior practice, workers were positioned at the discharge end 11 of guide 8 for the purpose of removing the finished hooks from guide 8 and packing same in suitable shipping cartons.

Now referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, it will be understood that the packing machine of the present invention includes an accumulator section, generally designated as 15, which is adapted to be placed adjacent the discharge end 11 of guide 8 in order to receive the leading end of row of books 2 passing therealong, and a packaging section, generally designated as 16, which is operably positioned adjacent section 15.

Accumulator section 15 includes a stationary, centrally disposed framework stand, indicated generally as a pair of stationary, inverted U-shaped, framework end stands, indicated generally as 21, 21'; a floating head, which is indicated generally as 22 and adapted to be supported for reciporcation on framework stand 20 along a path of travel aligned with the path of travel of row of books 2; a floating head motion controlling mechanism, indicated generally as 23; and a pair of lift delivery guides or chutes, which are indicated generally as 24, 24, and adapted to be movably supported adjacent the ends thereof floating head 22 and end stands 21, 21', respectively.

Stand 20 is shown in the drawings as having a base portion fabricated from three pair of vertically disposed angle irons 30, 31, 31', and 32, 32', which are suitably affixed to a pair of angle irons 33, 33, extending lengthwise of stand 20. Desired transverse spacing between angle irons 33, 33 may be maintained by any suitable means, such as cylindrical spacer bars 34, 35 and 36.

Now referring particularly to FIGS. 1, 4, 7 and 8, it will be seen that stand 20 includes a stationary guide assembly, designated generally as 40, which is adapted to receive row of books 2 passing through the discharge end 11 of guide 8, which may be supported on stand 20 by L-shaped bracket 11'.

Guide section includes a pair of spaced guide sections 41, 41 which are formed by mounting plates 42, 42', and a plurality of finger-like members 43, 43, which are maintained in a spaced relationship by means of spacer plates 44, 44. As clearly shown in FIG. 7, the plates of each section 41, 41 may be clamped together and the sections maintained in a desired spaced relationship by means of a plurality of threaded rods 45 and locking nuts 46. Mounting plates 42, 42' may be supported on the rearwardly extending end of angle irons 33, 33, respectievly, in any suitable manner such as being connected by bolts 47 47' to angle iron members 48, 48, which are in turn connected to angle irons 33, 33' by bolts 49, 49.

Stand 20 additionally includes a pair of facing, generally U-shaped guide members 50, 50' on which are rotatably mounted a plurality of guide rollers 51, 51'. Channel members 50, 50 may be affixed adjacent the forwardly extending ends of angle irons 33, 33', respectively, by any suitable means, not shown.

Now referring to FIGS. 1, 6 and 7, it will be seen that floating head 22 includes a generally T-shaped platform, having a central portion formed by joining together, as by threaded bolts and nuts 61, clamping bars 62, 62', guide plates 63, 63, a center bar 64, and plurality of finger-like guide members 65, 65, and a plurality of intermediate spacers 66, 66'.

The remaining portions of the floating head platform include rear bars 70, 70; a front bar 71; end bars 72, 72'; and generally L-shaped end flanges 73, 73'. By referring to FIGS. 2, 6 and 7, it will be understood that rear bar 70, 70' and front bar 71 are aflixed to clamping bars 62, 62' by machine screws 75, and to end bars 72, 72', by machine screws 76, and that end flanges 73, 73' are affixed to end bars 72, 72 by machine screws 77'. The

floating head platform thus far described is overlayed by a pair of thin, generally rectangular bronze sheets 80, 80' which may be aifixed to the platform in any suitable manner, such as by machine screws 81, shown only in FIG. 7.

In FIGS. 6, 7, and 10, sheets 80, 80' are shown as being spaced apart adjacent opposed marginal edges thereof above center bar 64, so as to freely receive generally L-shaped book retaining and actuating member, which is generally indicated as 83, and as having adjacent the oppositely facing ends thereof, generally semi-circular cutouts 84, 84' which are adapted to receive semi-circular portions forming the inlet ends of delivery chutes 24, 24'. In FIG. 6, the inlet end portions of delivery chutes 24, 24', are shown as being rotatably supported on platform end flanges 73, 73 by means of pivot pins 86, 86, which are adapted to be rotatably received within end flange apertures 87, 87. Bearing washers 88, 88' may be disposed between the recessed tupper surfaces 89, 89' of end flanges 73, 73 and the bottoms of chutes 24, 24' in order to reduce friction therebetween.

In FIGS. 6, 7, 8 and I0, platform center bar 64 is shown as having a lengthwise extending, inverted T- shaped slot 90, which is adapted to slidably support a conforming base portion 91 of book retaining and actuating member 83, which is additionally provided on its forwarding facing end with an intrically formed, upstanding retaining and actuating pin 92. The rearwardly facing end of center bar 64 is shown as being cut out, as at 94, to define a pair of flange members 95, 95' on which a pulley member 96 is rotatably supported by a pin shaft 97.

Member 83, and thus pin 92, is normally biased rearwardly within slot 90, i.e. to the left when viewed in FIG. 8, by means of a cable 98, which is trained over pulleys 96 and 99 and has its ends attached respectively, to member 83 by eye screw 100 and to a shaft 101, carried on guide plates 63, 63'. Pulley 99 is supported on a shaft 102, whose respective ends are journaled in apertures, not shown, provided in the legs of a generally U- shaped bracket 104, and slidably received within slot openings 105, provided in generally L-shaped brackets 106, 106. Brackets 106, 106 are shown particularly in FIGS. 6 and 10 as being alfixed to the undersurfaces of finger-like members 65, 65 by bolts 107, 107. In FIG. 8, bracket 104 is shown as being connected by means of a return tension spring 110 to platform front bar 71.

It will be understood that member 83 is normally maintained in its rearwardly disposed position, as viewed in FIG. 8 by return tension spring 110, which tends to maintain bracket 104 in a forwardly disposed position, i.e. to the right when viewed in FIG. 8. Thus, when member 83 is moved to the right, again as viewed in FIG. 8, in the manner to be hereinafter described, shaft 102 of pulley 99 is forced to slide within bracket slots 105, 105 to the left, as viewed in FIG. 8 whereby return spring 110 is tensioned.

Floating head 22 is shown in the drawings as being movably supported for reciprocation lengthwise of stand 20 by means of a plurality of rollers 120, which are rotatably carried on guide plates 63, 63' and adapted to be received within U-shaped frame guides 50, 50, respectively. As clearly indicated in FIGS. 6, 7 and 10, transverse positioning of floating head 22 is maintained during reciprocation thereof by stand rollers 51, 51', which are adapted to engage oppositely facing side surfaces of guide plates 63, 63'.

Floating head 22 is adapted to be normally maintained in its rearmost position, wherein the free ends of fingerlike members 65, 65' engage stationary support spacers 44, 44 by means of floating head control mechanism 23, which includes a pair of cables 130, which are trained, respectively, over pulleys 131, 132 and 131, 132. The respective ends of cables 130, 130 are attached to a shaft 133, which is carried on angle irons 33, 33', and to the rearwardly extending ends of guide plates 63, 63' by means of eye screws 134, 134. Pulleys 131, 131 are shown particularly in FIG. 7 as being rotatably supported on shaft 135, whose ends are carried respectively by angle irons 33, 33. In FIGS. 2, 4 and 8, pulleys 132, 132' are shown as being journaled on a shaft 136, whose respective ends are constrained for vertical reciprocating sliding motion within slots 137, 137 provided in stand mounted brackets 138, 138. Intermediate the ends of shaft 136 is journaled a generally U-shaped bracket 139, which is aflixed to piston rod 140 of pneumatic cylinder 141.

The control circuit for cylinder 141 includes adjustable means, not shown, which tends to maintain a constant desired operating pressure within the cylinder, which is independent of the displacement of piston rod 140 and functions to normally maintain the piston rod in its retracted position. Thus, when floating-head 22 is forced to reciprocate in a forward direction, i.e. to the right as viewed in FIG. 8,- in the manner to be hereafter described, thereby extending piston rod 140, a constant control pressure will be maintained within cylinder 141 which tends to return the piston rod to its retracted position and maintains floating head 22 under a constant return pressure.

By referring to FIGS. 7 and 10, it will be seen that guide plates 63, 63' and finger-like members 65, 65' are offset with respect to stationary support members 43, 43' and cooperate therewith to form a continuous expansible support surface for row of books 2, when floating head 22 is reciprocated with respect to stand 20*. Preferably, guide plates 63, 63 and members 65, 65' and 43, 43 have a half round upwardly facing surface, which is capped or coated with bronze to facilitate sliding of books thereover with a minimim amount of friction. To facilitate transfer of the books from guide plates 63-, 63' and members 65, 65 onto platform surface sheets 80, 80, the guide plates and fingers are stepped, as at 150, through a distance corresponding to the thickness of sheets 80, 80.

Again referring to FIGS. 7 and 10, it will be seen that floating head 22 is provided with a pair of generally L- shaped book guides 160, 160' having parallel leg guide portions 160a, 160a; and oppositely extending leg portions 16%, 16%, which are disposed in alignment with the rearwardly facing marginal edges of platform cover plates 80, 80', respectively. Guides 160, 160" are mounted on rear bar 70, 70', respectively, to permit adjustment of parallel leg guide portions 160a, 160a transversely of the path of feed of row of books 2, by providing slot openings 161, 161' in guide leg portions 1601), 16%, which are adapted to slidably receive support members 162, 162, which are in turn affixed to rear bar. 70', 70' by machine screws 163, 163'. Guides 160, 160' may be clamped in adjusted position against rear bars 70, 70 'by means of enlarged head threaded bolts 164, 164' which pass through members 162, 162 into rear bars 70, 70', respectively.

In FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, floating head 22 is shown as being provided with a transversely extending front book guide bar 170, which is disposed parallel to leg guide portions 160b, 16% and mounted for adjustable movement normal thereto. Specifically, guide bar 170 includes guide bar portions 170a, 170b, which are affixed to a transversely extending support bar 171, as by machine screws 172 shown only in FIGS. 8 and 9, in an end spaced relationship, so as to define a through slot opening 173 adapted to freely receive retaining and actuating pin 92. Centrally of support bar 171 is disposed an integrally formed depending flange portion 174, which is adapted to be slidably received within center bar slot 90. Sliding movement of portion 174 within slot 90 and thus movement of guide bar portions 170a, 17% normal to leg portions 160b, 160b, respectively, may be effected by a manually operated adjustment screw 175, which is threadably received within portion 174 and journaled within block 176, which is affixed to front platform bar 71 by means of machine screws 177.

Again, referring particularly to FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, it will be seen that a micro switch 180 is suitably supported on support bar 171 and provided with an operating plunger 181 which is adapted to be depressed by book retaining and actuating pin 92 when the latter is moved forwardly through opening 173 in the manner to be hereinafter described.

Floating head 22 is further provided with a lift separating and transfer mechanism, which is generally designated as 190 in the drawings and shown as including a pair of end mountings 191, 191; a pair of transversely extending parallel guide rods 192, 193, which are end supported on end mountings 191, 191; a pusher plate 194, which is slidably supported for reciprocation in a direction transversely of floating head 22 by means of guide rods 192, 193, received within pusher plate bearings 196, 197; and a pneumatically operated cylinder 198, which is carried on end mounting 191' and provided with a piston rod 199 whose projecting end extends through end mounting 191' and is clamped to pusher plate 194, as at 200.

End mountings 191, 191' may be mounted by any suitable means on the platform portion of floating head 22, such as by machine screws 201 which are threadably received within rear platforms bars 70, 70 as indicated in FIG. 11. As best shown in FIG. 7, end mountings 191, 191 may be provided with guide plates 202, 202 which are adapted to be slidably received within slots 203, 203' provided in front guide support bar 171 in order to insure rectilinear motion of guide bar portions a, 170b, when manual adjustment screw is operated. Additionally, coil compression springs 204, 204 may be disposed between front guide support bar 171 and end mountings 191, 191 to facilitate positioning of the former.

Referring particularly to FIG. 8, it will be seen that the bottom edge of the pusher plate is disposed above the top of book retaining and actuating pin 92 and the top surfaces of guide bar portions 170a, 170b, in order to permit adjustment thereof with respect to leg guide portions 160b, 16% without interfering with reciprocating movement of pusher plate 194 between its extreme right hand and left hand positions indicated in full and phantom line respectively in FIGS. 3 and 6. Also, it will be seen that the rearwardly extending edge of the pusher plate 194 is tapered or inclined upwardly as at 194; towards the front end of floating head 22, and that the forwardly facing marginal edge of pusher plate 194 is provided with a mounting flange 205, which is adapted to support an actuating pin 210 disposed parallel to the path of reciprocation of the pusher plate. It will be understood that when pusher plate 194 is moved between its right hand position, viewed in FIGS. 1, 2, 3 and 6, and its left hand position, viewed in FIGS. 3 and 6, that the ends 210a, 21% of pin 210 are adapted to be projected through apertures provided in end mountings 191, 191, respectively; into engagement with the operating plungers of micro switches 211, 211. Micro switches 211, 211' may be sup ported in any suitable manner on mountings 191, 191, respectively.

It will be understood that micro switches 211, 211 are incorporated within the pneumatic operating circuit, not shown, for pneumatic cylinder 198, such that when either of switches 211, 211' is tripped by an appropriate end of actuating pin 210 when pusher plate 194 is in one of its end positions, the depression of plunger 181 to actuate micro switch will cause pressurized air to be admitted into one or the other of the end of cylinder 198 for the purpose of reciprocating the pusher plate 194 to its opposite end position. Thereafter, pusher plate 194 is maintained in such position until such time as book retaining and actuating pin 92 again depresses plunger 181 of micro ,SWitCh 180.

In FIG. 1 lift delivery guides 24, 24' are shown as being movably supportedly adjacent the oppositely extending or outlet ends thereof on framework end stands 21, 21, respectively. It will be understood that pins 220, 220' carried on stands 21, 21 and received within guide slots 221, 221 provided in guides 24, 24 permit the guides to both rotate and reciprocate with respect to the ends stands, when the inlet ends of the guides are moved in response to reciprocation movement of floating head 22.

To insure that lifts 4, 4' of varying thickness are properly guided along guides 24, 24, the guides are provided with a plurality of relatively spaced flexible guide plates 225, 225 which are carried on foremost guide flanges 226, 226 and serve to maintain the relative surfaces of the lifts in sliding engagement with guide flanges 227, 227. To facilitate transfer of the lifts through the inlet ends of guides 24, 24' from floating head 22, the inlet end portions of guide flanges 226, 226 and 227, 227' are provided with flexible guide plates 228, 228' and 229, 229, which cooperate with front guides 170a, 17% and guide leg portions 160b, 1601), respectively.

The control circuit for accumulator section 15, not shown, may include micro switch 230, which is mounted on stand 20, as indicated in FIGS. 1 and 2, and employed to sense undesired over travel of floating head 22 in a forward direction due to a malfunction of the accumulator section. Micro switch 230 is preferably connected to the pneumatic operating circuit of cylinder 6, so that when over travel is sensed operation of cylinder 6 will be arrested.

Packing section 16 is shown primarily in FIGS. 1, 2, 4 and as including at least a pair of packing stands. generally designated as 300, 300, which are positioned immediately adjacent each of the lift delivery guides 24,

24', and filled carton forwarding conveyor, generally designated as 301, which is disposed beneath stand 20 and delivery guides 24, 24'.

Although the specific structure of conveyor 301 forms no part of the present invention, it is shown for purposes of illustration as being in the form of an endless belt 302, which is trained about a pair of spaced, parallel rollers 303, 303; the latter roller being powered by a suitable electric motor 304 operating through a chain link drive 305. While conveyor belt 302 may be operated in any desired fashion, it is shown for purposes of reference as being continuously driven in the direction indicated by arrows 306 in FIGS. 1 and 2 for the purposes of transferring filled cartons to a conveyor associated with a carton sealing machine, not shown.

Packing stands 300, 300 are of identical construction and include generally box-like support members 310, 310' which are provided with apertured upwardly facing surfaces 311, 311', through which project a plurality of carton supporting rollers 312, 312. Rollers 312, 312 may be freely carried on a plurality of spaced parallel shafts, not shown, suitably mounted within members 310, 310'. The forwarding facing sides of members 310, 310' are provided with upwardly extending plates or flanges 313, 313', which form front guide surfaces for cartons,

shown in phantom as 314, supported on rollers 312, 312. Preferably, the upwardly extending edge portions of plates 313, 313 are bent forwardly to facilitate positioning of the cartons to be packed, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 5.

Various width cartons may be accurately positioned on members 310, 310', due to the provision of spaced, oppositely inclined guides 315, 315, which may be adjustably positioned transversely of the upper surface of the members 310, 310, by means of adjustment bolts 316, 316', which are slidably received Within slots 317, 317 disposed in the front plates 313, 313'.

Referring specifically to FIGS. 2, 4 and 5, it will be seen that members 310, 310' are pivotally supported by means of aligned hinge pins 318, 318 on generally U- shaped rigid bars 319, 319', which are in turn supported for vertical reciprocating movement with respect to base plates 320, 320' by rods 321, 321' of pneumatically operated double-acting cylinders 322, 322'. Rotation of bars 319, 319' and thus members 310, 310' about the axis of the cylinder rods 321, 321 may be prevented by pairs of telescopic guides 323, 324 and 323, 324 which have their respective end sections connected to bars 319, 319' and base plate 320, 320' in any suitable manner.

In FIG. 4 support member 310 is shown as being in its upper or carton loading position, wherein it is tilted forwardly in order to insure that a carton when placed thereon by a workman will be maintained in abutting engagement with the front plate 313. Forward tilting of support member 310 may be achieved by placing the pivot axis defined by hinge pins 318, 318 rearwardly of the effective center of gravity of the support members. The degree of tilt may be controlled by means of adjustable screw abutments 325, 325 which are rigidly aflixed to rigid bars 319, 319'.

Support members 310, 310 may be moved to their lower or filled carton discharge positions, shown in the case of support member 310 in FIG. 5, by actuating cylinders 322, 322' to fully retract cylinder rods 321, 321. When moved into their lower positions, the support members are forced to tilt rearwardly about the axis of hinge pins 318, 318 by motion limiting rods 330, 330, which are aflixed to base plates 320, 320', thereby permitting filled cartons disposed thereon to roll off rollers 312, 312' on to conveyor belt 302 due to the force of gravity. As a safety measure, the upwardly extending ends of rods 330, 330' are encased in sleeves 331, 331' to prevent an operator from being pinched between the upwardly extending ends of rods and the lower surfaces of support members 310, 310 when the latter are moved to their lower positions. Sleeves 331, 331 may be loosely pivoted to support members 310, 310', as at 332, 332', to prevent binding between the sleeves and the rods when support members are tilted.

Preferably, a tubular guide rail 335, shown only in FIGS. 1, 4 and 5, is provided to prevent tipping or overturning of the filled cartons discharged onto conveyor belt.

While any suitable control means may be employed to actuate cylinders 322, 322 for the purpose of moving support members 310, 310 between their upper and lower positions, it is preferable to employ a control system including foot operated treadles 340, 340' in order to free the hands of an operator, and a time delay control valve, which permits only momentary retraction of cylinder rods 321, 321' when foot treadles are depressed. Thus, an operator need only momentarily depress one of the treadles to operate its corresponding cylinder, such that a support member is moved to its lower position and returned to its up or normal position within a matter of a few seconds.

The manner of operation of the accumulator section 15 will be more fully understood by reference to one operational cycle thereof which is depicted schematically in FIGS. l219. In these figures, lifts formed during previous operational cycles are indicated as 4, 4.

It will be understood that prior to initiation of the first operational cycle the spacing between leg portion a, 160a of L-shaped guides 160, 160', had been adjusted to insure proper guiding of row of books 2 lengthwise of its path of travel, and screw 175 operated to vary the spacing between front guide bar portions a, 170b and leg guide portions 160b, 1601) in accordance with the compressed thickness of the individual lifts to be formed. The compressed thickness of a lift may be substantially smaller than the apparent thickness of such lift formed by merely stacking a group of books, due to the inclusion of air between the pages of the latter, and is determined, absent frictional forces, by the return force exerted on floating head 22 by operation of pneumatic return cylinder 141.

In FIG. 12, the accumulator section is shown as being in its initial or rest position. In this position floating head 22 is in its most rearward position; retaining an actuating pin 92 abuts the forward facing surface of the leading book 2a of the row of books 2, which book surface is in turn disposed flush with the aligned leg portions 160b, 1-60b' of L-shaped guides 1'60, 160'; and the pusher plate 194 is in one of its two rest positions, for instance its left hand position wherein it is in surface engagement with previously formed lift 4, and 210a of actuating p'in 210 is disposed in operable engagement with micro switch 211. Also, it will be understood that at this point cylinder 6 is inoperative for the purpose of feeding row of books 2'. Additionally, it will be noted that when processing flexible backed books, commonly termed paper backs, the top of leading book 2a tends to incline forwardly above retaining and actuating pin 92 in the manner generally illustrated in FIG. 8.

FIG. 13 depicts the initiation of the operational cycle, wherein cylinder 6 is operated to extend pressure plate 7 and initiate feeding movement of row of books 2 in the direction indicated by the arrow 400. When feeding movement is initiated, the leading end of row of books 2 is forced through the outlet end of the guide defined by guide leg portions 160a, 160a, thereby forcing retaining and actuating pin 92 to move towards front guide bar 170, against the bias of spring 110. Any movement of the floating head 22 due to frictional forces existing between row of books 2 and the guide surfaces of the floating head will be slight at this point.

In FIG. 14, leading book 2a of row of books 2 is shown as having been moved into abutting engagement with the front guide bar portions 170a, 170b to force pin 92 through slot 173 into engagement with the operating plunger of micro switch 180, thereby initiating operation of cylinder 198 to reciprocate pusher plate 194 to the right, as indicated by arrow 401. Continued movement of the row of books 2 in the direction of arrow 400 with leading book 2a in engagement with the front guide surface bar portions 170a, '170b initiates forward reciprocating movement of the floating head 22, as indicated by the arrows 402 and thus pivotable movement of the inlet ends of discharge guides 24, 24', as indicated by arrows 403, 403'. During travel of head 22, the books within row 2 are compressed preparatory to forming of a lift.

In FIG. 15, a forward motion of the floating head 22 is shown as continuing in the direction of arrow 402, due to the continued feeding movement of the row of books 2, while the pusher plate 194 is shown as having been partially moved across its path of travel to initially separate the leading books of row of books 2 into a lift 4a. Discharge guides 24, 24' continue to rotate in the direction of arrows 403, 403'.

In FIG. 16, floating head 22 is shown as approaching its maximum forward position, and pusher plate 194 as being moved sufliciently to the right to release and permit the return of pin 92 to its original position under the action of spring 110, and the release of the micro switch 180. When pin 92 is returned to its original position, it now engages lead book 2b of the next lift to be formed. The tapered rear edge 194' of pusher plate 194 permits motion thereof without interference with the upper portion of book 2b which tends to lean forward, as indicated in FIG. 8. Over travel of the floating head 22, due to an irregular stroke of the book advancing piston 6 may be prevented by micro switch 230 which serves to terminate operation of the advancing piston.

In FIG. 17, pusher plate 194 is shown as being in its full right hand position, whereat right hand end 21% of actuating pin 210 is disposed in operative engagement with the micro switch 211. When pusher plate 194 is moved to the right from its overlying relationship with the leading book 2b indicated in FIG. 16, floating head 22 is returned towards its rearmost position as indicated by the arrows 402a, whereby delivery guides 24, 24' are caused to pivot in return direction indicated by arrows 403a, 403a. During returning movement of floating head 22 feeding of row of books 2 may be terminated but pin 92 is again forced to move relative to micro switch 180.

As pusher plate 194 is moved to the right, lift 4a will be forced into engagement with previously formed lifts 4', whereby such lifts are forced to slide along guides 24 towards packing stand 300'.

In FIG. 18, floating head 22 is shown as having been returned to its original position, but with the pin 92 being again disposed in operable engagement with the plunger of micro switch 180, so as to close the operating circuit of the cylinder 198 and initiate travel of pusher plate 194 towards its left hand position, as indicated by arrow 401a.

In FIG. 19, the operating cycle is shown as nearing completion, whereat a second lift of books 4a has been formed and pin 92 again released and permitted to return to its original position into engagement with leading book 2c of a succeeding lift to be formed. A first complete cycle of operation will be completed when pusher plate 194 is returned to its full left hand position, illustrated in FIG. 12. During return of pusher plate 194 cylinder 6 is fully retraced to permit the supply of books within row 2 to be replenished via supply guide 9.

As discussed with reference to lift 4a in FIG. 17, movement of newly formed lift 40 to the left as shown in FIG. 19 acts to force previously formed lifts 4 along guide 24 towards packing stand 300'.

The speed of operation of accumulator section 15, i.e. the speed at which lifts 4, 4 are formed and conveyed along guides 24, 24', will of course be determined by the operational speed of book fabricating apparatus 3. With present fabricating speeds, however, it has been found that the output of lifts may be accommodated by providing a pair of packing stands 300, 300' each having only one experienced operator to perform both the carton fabricating and the packing operations. -In this respect it will be understood that due to the novel construction of the packing stands, an operators hands are free to form a new carton while a previously packed carton is auto matically discharged on conveyor 302, and that the operator may thereafter employ both hands to seize successively presented preformed lifts and pack same in the carton.

While there has been described only specific embodiment of the packaging machine according to the present invention, various modifications thereof will likely occur to one skilled in the art in view of the foregoing description. For example, the accumulator section of the present invention may be employed in combination with automatic carton forming and packing apparatus in order to dispense with the need for manual packers. Further, the accumulator and/or packing sections may be employed to process articles in addition to books, which are compressible at least to some extent. Still further, means other than a retaining and actuating pin and a microswitch senser may be employed to determine when the front guide is engaged by the leading end of the fed row. Accordingly, it is wished that the scope of protection for the present invention be limited only by the scope of the appended claims wherein:

I claim:

1. An article processing machine for use with apparatus having means adapted to feed a row of articles intermittingly along a first path of travel to said machine, said articles being arranged within said row in flat surface abutting relationship and being compressible at least to some extent in the direction of said path of travel, which machine includes:

means adapted to supportedly receive the leading end of said row of articles; means mounting said receiving means for movement from a first receiving position in the direction of said path of travel in response to feeding movement of the leading end of said row of articles; means tending to return said receiving means to said first position; and means for separating at least one article from the leading end of said row supported by said receiving means and feeding said 1 1 separated article in a direction transversely of said path of travel during movement of said receiving means from said first position.

2. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means includes guide means disposed transversely of said path of travel, said leading end of said row being engageable with said guide means to move said receiving means from said first position, and said separating means being movable alternatively in opposite directions transversely of said path of travel during successive movements of said receiving means from said first position, whereby articles separated during such successive movements are fed alternately in opposite directions parallel to said guide means.

3. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means additionally includes guide means disposed transversely of said path of travel, said leading end of said row being engageable with said guide means to move said receiving means from said first position; and means adapted to determine initiation of engagement of said guide means by said leading end of said row, said determining means being adapted to control operation of said separating means.

4. A machine according to claim 3, wherein said determining means includes retaining and actuating means mounted on said receiving means for reciprocation in alignment with said path of tavel from a retaining position to an actuating position; means tending to maintain said retaining and actuating means in said retaining position, said retaining and actuating means being engageble by said leading end of said row to effect movement thereof from said retaining position to said actuating position upon feeding movement of said row to position said leading end in engagement with said guide means; and switch means operable by said retaining and actuating means when reciprocated into said actuating position, said switch means being adapted to control operation of said separating means, and said separating means when operated being adapted to separate at least one article from said leading end of said row and remove said separated article from engagement with said retaining and actuating means.

5. A machine according to claim 2, wherein said machine additionally includes a pair of oppositely extending discharge guide means, said discharge guide means having facing inlet end portions movably carried on said receiving means and adapted to alternately receive said separated articles when fed in opposite directions.

6. A machine according to claim 5, wherein said machine additionally includes conveyor means disposed transversely of said path of travel, said conveyor means being disposed beneath said discharge guides and said receiving means and being adapted to be driven in a direction of travel disposed transversely of said path of travel; and at least one packing station disposed adjacent each of said discharge guide means intermediate the ends thereof, said packing station including means adapted to support a carton immediately adjacent one of said discharge guides in an upper position in which said carton is accessible for manual packing of articles removed from said discharge guide, and means adapted to move said support means to a lower position to discharge a carton carried thereon by gravity onto said conveyor.

7. A machine according to claim 6, wherein said support means is mounted for pivotal movement about an axis disposed substantially parallel to the path of travel of said conveyor, said support means includes a first bracket, said support means when in said upper position being adapted to be tilted about said axis in a first direction to position said supported carton in engagement with said first bracket, and said support means when moved into said lower position being adapted to be tilted about said axis in a second dicertion to permit discharge of said supported carton onto said conveyor.

8. A machine according to claim 7, wherein said support means includes roller means adapted to support a carton when placed thereon, said roller means facilitating gravity discharge of said supported carton when said support means is moved to its lower position.

9. A machine according to claim 7, wherein said support means includes a pair of spaced brackets extending normally to said first bracket, said spaced brackets being adapted to guidedly position a carton in a direction parallel to said first bracket, and means to adjustably mount said spaced brackets onto said first bracket, whereby the distance between said spaced brackets may be adjustably varied.

10. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means includes means defining a guide for said row of articles and having an outlet through which said leading end is adapted to pass upon feeding movement of said row; rear guide means extending transversely of said path of travel from said outlet; front guide means adapted to be disposed parallel to said rear guide means, said front guide means being adapted to be engaged by the leading end of said row of articles when said row is fed through said outlet to effect movement of said receiving means from said first position; retaining and actuating means mounted on said receiving means for reciprocation between a retaining position adjacent said outlet to an actuating position adjacent said front guide means; first switch means operable by said retaining and actuating means when moved into said actuating position; and means tending to maintain said retaining and actuating means in said retaining position, said retaining and actuatig means being movable into said actuating position by said leading end of said row during feeding movement thereof into engagement with said front guide means, said first switch means when operated being adapted to control operation of said separating means, and said separating means when operated being adapted to separate from the leading end of said row in engagement with said front guide means that portion thereof extending between said outlet and said front guide means and to feed said separated portion transversely of said path of travel between said front and rear guide means, so as to remove said separated portion from engagement with said retaining and actuating means.

11. A machine according to claim 10, wherein adjustment means are provided to selectively vary the spacing between said front and rear guide means.

12. A machine according to claim 10, wherein said guide means defining said outlet and said rear guide means are formed by a pair of L-shaped members, said members being adjustably mounted on said receiving means to permit the distance between spaced leg portions thereof which define said outlet to be varied.

13. A machine according to claim 10, wherein said separating means includes a pusher plate, said pusher plate being mounted for reciprocation alternately in opposite directions transversely of said path of travel into first and second positions; means to reciprocate said pusher plate; a pair of switch means being disposed one adjacent each of said pusher plate positions and being operable to sense the presence of said pusher plate when reciprocated to said positions said pair of switches cooperating with first switch means to control operation of said reciprocating means.

14. A machine according to claim 1, wherein said receiving means includes a platform carried on said mounting means for reciprocation in alignment with said path of travel, said platform defining a support surface for receiving said leading end of said row of articles; first guide means carried on said platform and being arranged parallel to said path of travel and defining an outlet through which said leading end is adapted to pass upon feeding movement of said row; front guide means being spacd from said outlet and being engageable with said leading end of said row upon feeding movement thereof through said outlet to effect reciprocation of said platform in the direction of said path of travel; and means operable to determine engagement of said leading end with said front guide means, said determining means being adapted to control operation of said separating means, whereby when said front guide means is engaged by said leading end of said row said separating means is operated to separate the leading end portion of said row extending between said outlet and said front guide and feed said separate leading end in a direction transversely of said path of travel. Y.

15. A machine according to claim 14, wherein said determining means includes retaining and actuating means mounted on said platform for reciprocation in alignment with said path of travel from a retaining position disposed adjacent said outlet to an actuating position disposed adjacent said front guide means, means tending to maintain said retaining and actuating means in said retaining position, said retaining and actuating means being engageable by said leading end of said row to effect movement thereof from said retaining position to said actuating position upon feeding movement of said row through said outlet to position said leading end in engagement with said front guide means; and switch means engageable by said retaining and actuating means when reciprocated into said actuating position, said switch meansbeing adapted to control operation of said separating means.

16. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said separating means includes a pusher plate disposed parallel to said path of travel, said pusher plate being mounted on said platform for reciprocation alternately in opposite directions transversely of said path of travel into first and second positions, said pusher plate having actuating pin means, said pinmeans extending transversely of said path of travel and having oppositely facing end portions; means to reciprocate said pusher plate; a pair of switch means being disposed one adjacent each of said pusher plate positionsand being alternatively operable by said pin end portions when said pusher plate is reciprocated into said positions, said pair of switches alternately cooperating with said first switch means to control operation of said reciprocating means.

17. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said separating means includes a pusher plate disposed parallel to said path of travel, said pusher plate having a forward marginal edge portion disposed adjacent said front guide and a rear marginal edge portion disposed adjacent said outlet, said rear edge portion of said plate being upwardly and forwardly inclined in the direction of said front guide; means to reciprocate said pusher plate transversely of said path of travel to separate said leading end portion, and said reciprocating means being controlled by said first switch means.

18. A machine according to claim 15, wherein said first guide means includes a pair of L-shaped members, each said member including first and second leg portions, said first leg portions being spaced apart and arranged parallel to said path of travel to define said outlet, said second leg portions being disposed transversely of said path of travel and extending in opposite directions from said outlet, said second leg portions being adjustably mounted on said platform to permit the distance between said first leg portions to be varied; and adjustment means are provided to selectively vary the spacing between said front guide and said second leg portions of said L-shaped members.

19. A machine according to claim 14, wherein said mounting means includes stationary guide means defining a stationary guide surface for said row of articles, said platform support surface being adapted to receive said row passing from said stationary guide surface, said return means being operable to position said platform in said first position adjacent said stationary guide, and said platform supporting surface and said guide supporting surface cooperating to form an expansible article row supporting surface when said platform is moved from said first position upon engagement of said leading end of said row with said front guide means.

References Cited UNITED.STATES PATENTS 2,681,171 6/1954 Brown et a1. 53l59X 2,936,557 5/1960 Fay 53-202X 2,954,881 10/1960 Hopton et a1. 19824X THERON E. CONDON, Primary Examiner R. L. SPRUILL, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 

